Verbal Section
- Number of questions: 60; 30 synonyms and 30 analogies
- What it measures: Vocabulary, verbal reasoning, and ability to relate ideas logically
- Scored section: Yes
- Time allotted: 30 minutes
- Topics covered: This section covers word similarities and relationships through synonyms and analogies.
The verbal section of the Middle Level SSAT asks you identify synonyms and to interpret analogies. The synonym questions test the strength of your vocabulary. The analogy questions measure your ability to relate ideas to each other logically.
Synonyms are words that have the same or nearly the same meaning as another word. For example, fortunate is a synonym for lucky, tidy is a synonym for neat, and difficult is a synonym for hard. You must choose the answer word that has a meaning similar to the given word.
Analogies are comparisons between two things that are usually seen as different but have some similarities. These types of comparisons play an important role in improving problem-solving and decision-making skills, in perception and memory, in communication and reasoning skills, and in reading and building vocabulary. Analogies help you process information actively, make important decisions, and improve understanding and long-term memory. Considering these relationships stimulates critical and creative thinking.